Wall construction.



W. E. WILSON.

' 912. 1,234,990. Patented July 31, 1917.

WILLIAM E. WILSON, OF MASON CITY, IOWA.

WALL CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 191 '7.

Application filed March 14, 1912. Serial No. 683,810.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. WILsoN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Mason City, Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Wall Construction, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in wall construction, and theobjects of my improvements are these:

First, to provide hollow building-blocks of such an interiorly webbedconstruction as to cooperate when in a wall or other structure to afiordhorizontal air-passages therethrough, the vertical webs or walls of theblocks being so located and superposed with relation to each other as toform vertically continuous supporting means within the wall orstructure; second, my improvement lies in so forming the parts oftheblocks as to have their horizontal connecting mortarjointsdiscontinuous, with the component horizontal elements of the blocks alsohorizontally discontinuous, to prevent seepage of moisture through suchparts and through the wall or structure; third, to provide such blockswith such rugations or striations on one or more of their outer walls aswill afford engaging-means for a mortar joint or stucco coat thereupon,and lastly, to so modify and subdivide blocks of the above description,as to permit of their co6peration when assembled in a wall or otherstructure, to properly ligate the parts thereof, and furnish means forbonding the structure to a facing of brick or other material havingbinding projections or parts adapted to co-engage therewith in desiredrelations or combinations.

These objects I have accomplished by the means which are hereinafterdescribed and claimed, and which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an end elevation ofone of my improved building-blocks,showing its inner division-means for separating its interhollow into aplurality of parallel air-passages.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of one half of the block shown in Fig. 1, theblock being divided along medial longitudinal lines alon the websconnecting its two hollow mem ers.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a modified form of the block shown in Fig.1, of one half the height of the latter.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of another modified form of the block shownin Fig. 1, but exhibiting the same principles of construction.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a wall structure in whichthe building- I have shown the several building-blocks- A, B, C and D,of varied forms and dimensions, but employing the same principles ofconstruction.

The block A is formed in similar members or halves of hollow rectangularform, as shown at 1 and 11, being oblong with walls 1, 2, 3 and 4, eachmember having its longer vertical walls 1 and 4 connected by integralhorizontal parallel webs 5 and 6 of a similar thickness, to provide aplurality of similar horizontal air-passages therethrough. Said membersare spaced apart but connected integrally together by the horizontalspaced-apart webs 7 and 8, said webs being also spaced apart from theends of the mem bers to a distance one half the height of the interspacebetween the webs, so that when another block of the same kind isplacedin superposition thereon there will be a plurality of horizontalair-passages between the members of the blocks of the same dimensions.The webs 7 and 8 between the members 1 and 11 are, however, preferablymade discontinuous with the inner webs 5 and 6 of said members byofi'setting them relative thereto, to thereby prevent seepage ofmoisture through the block.

It will be observed that each inner web 7 and 8 may be formed with anarrow relatively deep medial longitudinal groove such as is shown at 9and 10 in the block A, at 20 and 21 in the inner webs 18 and 19 of theblock B, and at 28 in the inner webs 29, 30 and 31 of the block C, likea saw kerf, for the following-purpose if desired. When it becomesnecessary to assemble in a structure a half block D, in order to causeit to coengage and become bonded between inwardly projected bondingbricks or blocks 33 of a facing layer 33-84:, as is shown in Fig. 5,such a half block D may be quickly and conveniently supplied, by simplydividing a, block A along lines of fracture indicated by the kerfs orgrooves in the inner webs between the members 1 and 11 above described.These kerfs 9 and 10 guide the fracture and insure an exact division ofthe block on the medial lines desired.

The block C is similar to the block A externally, but may be of greaterheight, since it is supplied with a larger number of webs 27 between itswalls 23, 24, 25 and 26 of its spaced-apart like members 23 and 32,while it has a larger plurality of inner webs 29, 30 and 31..integrallyconnecting its said members, the latter webs being discontinuous withthe other said webs for a like purpose as above described.

The block B is furnished in one-half the height of the block A and is ofsimilar external form, but has no webs connecting the walls 13, 1'5, 16and 17 of its members 13 and 22, but has spaced-apart webs 18 and 19between its members, also spaced apart from the ends of the members. Theblock B is used in a structure, as shown in Fig. 5, to complete a pileof blocks A in superposition to a desired height or level relative tothe other parts of the structure. A corner j amb or bonding block of anydesired or usual form or structure may be used in assemblage with theother said blocks as suitable and desired, and which will effectuallybond therewith in place.

In the structure shown in Fig. 5, it will be observed, that an outerfacing of brick es 34 or like bodies of other material is used, in whichthe bonding-bricks 33 are separated by spaces each equal to the heightof a block A plus the mortar-joints 37. When a different number ofblocks 34 are to be superposed between the blocks 33, such as six ofthem instead of the four shown, the interspace between theinwardly-projecting ends of the blocks 33 may be filled up by placing ahalf-block D upon the block B, said halfblock D being secured by simplydividing the block A along the medial longitudinal kerfs 9 and 10 of itsinner webs 18 and 19, the projecting halves of the webs then acting asspacing and supporting members against the adjacent face of the tier ofblocks A-B.

When such blocks are thus built into a wall or other structure, theair-passages of the blocks register to form a plurality of communicatingopenings or channels, inter rupted vertically by the walls and innerwebs of the blocks. Since the blocks are laid with their interspaceshorizontal, their upper and lower sides form discontinuous oints formortar connections 37, and moisture may not therefore follow the mortarjoints through the structure, while a maximum amount of fiat horizontalsurface for the application of the plaster is attained, and the plastermay be spread as the blocks are lifted and superposed, with a minimum oflabor and expenditure of time. When the blocks are so superposed and invertical registration in a structure, the vertical walls of the blocksregister in vertical alinement, thus producing a body of the maximumrigidity and strength.

In Fig. 6 is shown a plurality of the blocks A superposed and connectedby mortar joints. The outer faces of the blocks have each a plurality oflongitudinal furrows or striations 12. A stucco coat 35 may be appliedto said structure and enters and engages the striations 12, as also doesa plaster coat 36 on the opposite side of the structure. The striationsthus lock the mortar coat, or a mortar-joint such as that shown at 37 inFig. 5 firmly to the coacting blocks, to prevent horizontal or otherdisplacement thereof. Such striations may be placed on one or more ofthe faces of a block as desired for the purposes used.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

1. A structure formed of blocks of burnt clay tile or the like, in whichcertain of the blocks are alike and superposed in a vertical alinementin registration, each biock being formed in spaced apart parts connectedby spaced apart horizontal webs which are spaced apart from the ends ofthe block, said parts having side and end walls with the side wallsconnected by spaced apart webs discontinuous with the webs between saidparts, and a supplemental block or blocks adapted to be ranged alongsidethe other superposed blocks and spaced apart from each other to admit abinding-block or blocks from a facing layer between them, each of saidsupplemental blocks being a half block of the first-mentioned type,divided along the medial longitudinal lines of the horizontal websbetween the parts thereof, the half-webs remaining on said supple mentalblocks being adapted to space the latter apart from said alined tier ofwhole blocks.

2. A structure formed of blocks oi burnt clay tile or the like, in whichcertain of the blocks are alike and superposed in a vertical alinementin registration, each block being formed in spaced apart parts connectedby spaced apart horizontal webs which are spaced apart from the ends ofthe block, said parts having side and end walls with the side wallsconnected by spaced apart webs discontinuous with the webs between saidparts, a supplemental blocl; superposed upon said tier of blocks beingof the same horizontal dimensions but bein one-half the height of thefirst-described lock, and formed in two spaced apart parts connected byhorizontal spaced apart webs spaced apart from the ends of the block,the vertical walls of all said blocks being in vertical a-linement witheach other respectively with their mortar joints discontinuous, and asupplemental block or blocks adapted to be ranged alongside the othersuperposed blocks and spaced apart from each other to admit abinding-block or blocks from a facing-layer between them, each of saidsupplemental blocks being a half-block of the first-mentioned type,divided along the medial longitudinal lines of the horizontal websbetween the parts thereof, the halfwebs remaining on said supplementalblocks being adapted to space the latter apart from said alined tier ofblocks, but being discontinuous with the webs of the said tier ofblocks.

3. A structure formed of blocks of burnt clay tile or the like, in whichcertain of the blocks are alike and superposed in a vertical alinementin registration, each block being formed in spaced apart parts connectedby spaced apart horizontal webs which are spaced apart from the ends ofthe block to provide horizontal channels between the webs of the samedimensions, said parts having side and end walls connected by spacedapart webs discontinuous with the webs between the parts and havinghorizontal channels of the same dimensions between the webs, and asupplemental block or blocks adapted to be ranged alongside the othersuperposed blocks, each of said supplemental blocks being a half blockof the firstinentioned type, divided along the horizontal webs betweenthe parts thereof.

4. A structure formed of blocks of burnt clay tile or the like, in whichcertain of the blocks are alike and superposed in a vertical alinementin re istration, each block being formed in spaced apart parts connectedby spaced apart horizontal webs which are spaced apart from the ends ofthe block, said parts side and end walls connected by spaced apart websdiscontinuous with the other said webs, and a supplemental block orblocks adapted to be ranged alongside the other superposed blocks, eachof said sun leinental blocks bein a half block of the first-mentionedtype, divided vertically, with the webs and motar-joints thereofdiscontinuous horizontally With the webs and mortar-joints of thefirst-mentioned blocks.

5. A building tile designed to be placed in a wall with its air spaceextending horizontally comprising two rectangular lobes each having avertical web at its outer and inner edges, the tops and bottoms'of saidlobes being parallel, horizontal webs connecting said lobes extendingthe length thereof and spaced apart more than half the height of thetile whereby a broad bearing is afforded between the lobes to resistshear strains and an air space is provided intermediate the lobes.

6. A building tile designed to be placed in a wall with its air spaceextending horizontally, comprising two rectangular lobes of the samesize, each having a vertical web at its inner and outer edges, and amortar bed at its top and bottom, whereby either lobe of a tile may besuperposed upon a lobe of the tile below in such a fashion that thevertical webs of said lobes will be in alinement, and horizontal websspaced apart more than half the height of said tile to connect saidlobes.v

7. A building tile designed to be laid into a wall with its air spacesextending horizontally and comprising two rectangular lobes of the samesize and spaced apart to afford two spaced mortar beds of equal size attheir tops and bottoms, said lobes having vertical webs at their innerand outer edges respectively, and spaced horizontal webs connecting saidlobes to afiord a broad bearing to resist shear strains, whereby asuperposed tile may be used to bridge two subjecent lobes with allvertical webs in alinement.

8. A building tile comprising two hollow lobes of substantially the samethickness, spaced apart by webs forming a continuous central horizontalair passage and providing two continuous horizontal mortar beds in thesame plane, and adapted to bridge two subjacent like tile with verticalwebs in alinement.

Signed at Waterloo, Iowa, this 26th day of Feb, 1912.

E. WILLSGN- Witnesses:

Banner, Giro,

